Dacorum

Dacorum's population grew in the 10 years leading up to 2011. At the same time there were changes in housing tenure and marriage.

The population passed 140,000

In the decade leading up to the most recent census, the population of Dacorum increased by 5.1%, from just under 138,000 to 145,000.

The addition of about 7,000 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Dacorum was home to, on average, 4.9 people per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres).

Population density was higher than the average across Eastof England

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across Eastof England, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

More people living alone

This area saw Eastof England's second-largest rise in the proportion of single-person households.

Across the region, only East Hertfordshire saw a greater rise in the proportion of single-person households (from 26% to 28%).

During this period, Dacorum went from having the 30th-highest to the 18th-highest percentage of single-person households out of 309 English local authority areas.

In 2011, just under 3 in 10 (29%) households in Dacorum had only a single person, compared with 27% in 2001. The percentage with an unmarried couple increased from 8.9% to 11%.

The percentage of households with only a single-person was higher than across Eastof England

Percentage of households that that comprised only a single person across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Dacorum residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 6.4% to 4.0% between the last two censuses.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (84%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 73% in 2001. The percentage of Dacorum residents that described their health as fair decreased from 20% to 12%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 7.6% in 2001 to 4.7% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Dacorum decreased by 2.4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Dacorum, Eastof England and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Dacorum that rented privately increased from 5.6% to 12% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just over one in five (22%) households lived in social housing, compared with 23% in 2001. The percentage of Dacorum households that owner their home decreased from 70% to 65%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 8.6% in 2001 to 15% in 2011). Across England, the proportion increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Private renting in Dacorum increased by 6.3 percentage points

Percentage of households in Dacorum, Eastof England and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer married people

The percentage of married people fell in Dacorum at a faster rate than in nearby St Albans.

In Dacorum, the proportion of married people decreased from 55% in 2001 to 50% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in St Albans decreased from 56% to 54%.

Across Eastof England, the share of married people decreased from 54% to 50%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership in Dacorum increased from 27% to 31%, while the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner increased from 10% to 12%.

The proportion of married people was higher than across Eastof England

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that that said they were married across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in rate of unemployment

The percentage of Dacorum residents that were unemployed increased from 2.3% to 3.7% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just under 6 in 10 (56%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 58% in 2001. The percentage of Dacorum residents that were self-employed increased from 9.9% to 12%.

The proportion of unemployed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 2.6% in 2001 to 3.8% in 2011). Across England, the proportion increased from 3.4% to 4.4%.

The rate of unemployment in Dacorum increased by 1.4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Dacorum, Eastof England and England that said they were unemployed, March 2001 and March 2011

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Area report data

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